8 of the UK's best boutique festivals

From Secret Garden Party to Farmfestival

Farmfestival

26 - 27 July, Somerset, UK

Embracing the true spirit of festival hosting, Farmfestival started as a party for friends, before it grew to encompass friends of friends, friends of friends of friends and so on. It supports local producers and suppliers, gives a chunk of the proceeds to charity and is known for its all-embracing friendliness.

Other line-up highlights:

Secret Garden Party

25 - 28 July, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

This year’s theme is ‘Superstition’ and we expect it to be as wholeheartedly embraced as ever in a variety of weird costumes, set-pieces and spectacle. If you like your festivals colourful, exhibitionist and full of invention, this could be for you.

Other line-up highlights:

Beacons Festival

16 - 18 August, Heslaker Farm, Skipton

A high brow selection of indie, dance and hip hop hosted within the scenic Yorkshire Dales. Beacons appeals to the serious muso without being po-faced - conveying a relaxed air and a very definite sense of fun.

Boardmasters

7 - 11 August, Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall

There’s (a really quite valid) argument that, with sponsorship from Vans and Relentless and a capacity of 14,500, Boardmasters is not a boutique festival at all. We’ve included it here because it offers big festival names in a top location for under £90 and its popularity with extreme sports types gives it a flavour of its own. A definite alternative.

Other line-up highlights:

Standon Calling

2 - 4 August, Standon, Hertfordshire

Hosted in the grounds of founder Alex Trenchard’s manor house, Standon is one of the flagship ‘boutiques’. Its ‘DIY ‘til I die’ attitude, Standon-only quirkiness (swimming pool with sound system, disco in the cowshed) and late-running schedule, create an experience that events charging twice the price can’t match.

Headliners: De La Soul, Band Of Skulls, Digitalism

Alunageorge, Bastille, The D.O.T, Toy, The Joy Formidable, Public Service Broadcasting, King Charles (full line-up)

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Leopallooza

2 - 4 August, Bude, Cornwall

Morphing from a house party (in a field) that sort of spun out of control into a fully-fledged festival, Leopallooza now aims to showcase local bands and entice acts to play an area full of music lovers, but somehow always missed by touring bands.

Headliners: To be announced

Truck

19 - 20 July, Hill Farm, Oxford

One of the first of the current wave of boutique festivals, Truck celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. It has a capacity of just 5,000 and it’s famed for its community spirit, great bands and friendly vibe.